Outbreak News Radio

Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, Durland Fish, PhD joined me to discuss the tickborne virus, Powassan. Dr. Fish talked about the history of Powassan, signs and symptoms, geography and some additional thoughts he had on the serious viral disease.

Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm found in the small intestines of raccoons. Humans get infected, albeit rarely (30-something cases have been reported; however, it is probably more common than documented), by accidentally ingesting eggs from the environment, from raccoon feces, contaminated water or fomites. The three most common disease manifestations of Baylisascaris are larval migrations t...

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new antibiotic into the arsenal for treating serious acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI). Its called delafloxacin and goes by the trade name, Baxdela and its manufactured by Melinta Therapeutics. Assistant Professor of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, James McKinnell, M.D. joined me to discuss the import...

Lyme disease expert, Clinical Director for the Division of Infectious Diseases and Professor of Medicine at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Paul Auwaerter joined me to answer questions about Lyme disease diagnostic testing, treatment, chronic Lyme disease and Lyme literate physicians.

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States and melanoma is the most dangerous type. In fact, Melanoma kills an estimated more than 10,000 people in the US annually. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute in Tampa, Seth Forman, MD joined me for a discussion on the ABC's of melanoma to include risk factors, things to look for...

The parasitic infection, Chagas disease, was first discovered in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated more than 10,000 people die every year from clinical manifestations of Chagas disease, and more than 25 million people risk acquiring the disease. It is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and the disease is also referred to as A...

Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) is a severe, sometimes fatal, respiratory disease in humans caused by infection with a hantavirus. Since 1993, some 700 cases of Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome have been reported in the United States, with 36 percent resulting in death. State Public Health Veterinarian for the New Mexico Department of Health, Dr. Paul Ettestad joined me on the show to discuss the...

Tampa, FL-based dermatologist and founder of Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute, Seth Forman, MD joined me on the show to talk about the autoimmune condition, psoriasis. Dr. Forman discussed the types of psoriasis, the symptoms, triggers and diagnosis of of the condition. He also went over the several treatment options available. In addition, Forman talked about clinical trials taking pl...

In 2010, I did an email interview with Blastocystis Research Foundation (BRF) director, Ken Boorom on the parasite Blastocystis hominis and the work done by the BRF. Several years after that, I did an audio interview with Ken to catch up o the latest research and developments concerning the protozoan parasite that afflicts so many.

The Chief Executive Officer of LymeDisease.org, Lorraine Johnson, JD, MBA joined me to discuss the issues she has with the report--scientific and ethical. In addition, Ms. Johnson discussed issues concerning chronic Lyme to include treatment and diagnosis--two issues that divide Lyme advocates and the CDC and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).

Richard W. Truman, Ph. D., Chief, Laboratory Research Branch with the National Hansen's Disease Program joined me to talk about leprosy in the United States and recent research published in the journal, Emerging Infectious Diseases entitled "Zoonotic Leprosy in the Southeastern United States"

In the opinion of many, DDT is up there with vaccinations, antibiotics and sanitation as the most important public health measures ever. Internist and President of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness, Jane Orient, MD joined for me for an interview on the history of DDT,  the incredible effectiveness and lives saved, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and the eventual and controversial EPA ban. In additio...

Professor at Laboure College in Milton, MA and biodefense and bioterrorism researcher, Lawrence Roberge PhD joined me to discuss a number of topics in the area of bioterrorism such as a review of the history, some of the agents and much, much more.

Author of the new book, Dirty War: Rhodesia and Chemical Biological Warfare 1975-1980, Glenn Cross, PhD joined me to discuss the book, give some history on the government's long counterinsurgency against native African nationalists and the top secret use of chemical and biological weapons (CBW).

Ringworm. Is it a worm at all? No, in fact it is a fungus and a pretty common one at that. Board-certified dermatologist and founder of the Forman Dermatology and Skin Cancer Institute in Tampa, FL, Seth Forman, MD joined me to discuss the issue of "tinea" or "dermatophytosis" to include symptoms, risk, diagnosis and treatment.

Maddie's® Clinical Assistant Professor of Shelter Medicine at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Cynda Crawford, DVM, PhD joined me for a discussion on the ABC's of canine influenza, or "dog flu".

Dr Floron (Buddy) C. Faries, Professor & Extension Veterinarian, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and with the National Center for Foreign Animal & Zoonotic Disease Defense, joined Robert Herriman for a thorough look at anthrax for a 2013 interview.

Roger S. Nasci, PhD, Chief of the Arboviral Diseases Branch in the Division of Vector-Borne diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined me to discuss Chikungunya in late 2013, soon after the first locally transmitted cases were reported in the Americas.

CDC expert, Jennifer Cope, MD, MPH joined me for a discussion on the "brain-eating amoeba", Naegleria fowleri during the summer of 2013.

New Mexico State Public Health Veterinarian, Dr. Paul Ettestad joined me for this 2013 interview about the plague, specifically in the US.